Top 10 Best Android TV Box in June 2020 – Buying Guide

There is no doubt that Android TV Box has been an exciting innovation for Android users this is not only because it can now allow them to make the most use of the features of their television. But also, it can now allow them to access popular streaming sites such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, watch movies online, download and install android apps, as well as surf the internet all using their TV.

The Android smart TV box has already overtaken cable TV. It has also completely given a new definition of convenience and versatility. After a long day at work, you will not have to go through that same old, limited, and boring content on the television.

An excellent Android box has become a must have for everyone who wants to further improve their TV viewing experience. However, picking the best android TV box can be a tough challenge as the market today is filled with so many streaming boxes. Nonetheless, we have taken out time to provide you with reviews of the best android boxes that will suit your taste, class, use, and budget.

With our android TV reviews, you are certainly not going to make the wrong choice whether you are looking for the best streaming device, best Kodi box, smart TV box or just an android smart TV box.

The NVIDIA Shield TV box boasts of an outstanding performance that is excellent for movie streaming, unique gaming experience and also surfing the internet too. This smart TV box is fast, flexible, and also gives you the ability to customize it to suit your preference. Besides, it is equipped with surround sound as well as a sharp video which helps to provide you with the ultimate streaming experience you desire.

This streaming TV box comes with an impressive NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor, android 8.0 Oreo OS as well as supported by 3 GB of RAM for improved performance and speed, and 16 GB Rom which gives you enough space to save your media. Another feature of this device is that it is Alexa compatible and Kodi optimized.

Furthermore, this comes with a dual band 802.11ac MIMO feature, gigabit Ethernet port, 5.1 audio passthrough, as well as the H.265 video decoding feature. Additionally, the Nvidia shield comes with not only an amazing 4K HDR graphics but also a great voice command function, thus giving this device lots of quality. Key features of this TV box include:

CPU: 2.0 GHz ARM Cortex A57 and 4 ARM Cortes A53 64bit

3GB RAM

16GB storage, expandable to 50GB

Alexa compatible

1 Audio Passthrough.

Kodi optimized.

Although this device streaming TV box is expensive, does not have a headphone jack on the remote as well as no SD card or micro USB slots, it’s 4K HDR quality, Tegra X1 processor, Android OS, impressive sound with Dolby Atoms, USB 3.0 and HDMI 2.0 ports, dots-x Surround sound pass-through, as well as being Kodi optimized and Alexa compatibility makes this streaming box, not just the best for gaming but also streaming.

Pros

Powerful processor and graphics

Wide native and streaming game selection

Familiar game controller design

MicroSD expandability

Cons

Amazon Fire Stick comes with the ability to play movies and with a capacity to show them with up to 2160p resolution. Although it is not the first 4K capable streaming media box, it is however equipped with a simple Plug and Play interface that makes it friendly and comfortable to use.

This device comes in a portable casing packed with a quad-core MediaTek CPU, 1 GB of RAM to provide hybrid gaming and media capability, and 8 GB of ROM. Additionally, this android TV device features a Gigabit LAN that provides for the finest possible Ultra HD streaming supported by a dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology.

Besides the fact that this device does not have the google play store, its affordability, LAN gigabit port, excellent voice command and search UI as well its 4K Ultra HD feature makes this stand out as the best budget android TV box.

Pros

Fast processor and responsive graphics

Biggest selection of 4K movies and shows

Excellent voice-command and search UI

Relatively affordable.

Cons

This Android TV box from China comes with some of the latest TV features and apps, including video and music sources from streaming services such as YouTube, Netflix, Google Play, and Spotify. The Xiaomi Mi box is equipped with the new Amlogic S905X-H quad core 2GHz ARM processor (Cortex-A53), 8 GB flash base storage, 2GB RAM for improved performance and speed, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, as well as an Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS.

Additionally, it is packed in a sleek casing that features a power adapter jack, an HDMI 2.0 port, a USB 2.0 port, and a 3.5mm audio port. Although it does not have a micro USB port, it also features a Bluetooth remote.

Furthermore, this android streaming box voice-enabled remote also supports the USH playback standards, which includes H.265 HEVC MP-10 (level 5.1) format, 4K resolutions at 60fps, and the VP9 Profile 2, HDR10 too. Other key features of this TV box include:

Quad Core, 2 GHz Cortex-A53

Android 6.0 Marshmallow

ROM: 8 GB

RAM: 2 GB

HDMI 2.0a

Bluetooth

Voice Search Remote

Google Cast Receiver.

Above all, even though this device does not have a micro USB port, with an Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS and features like the Quad core Amlogic S905X chipsets, 8 GB ROM, 2 GB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.0, not to mention its Wi-Fi 802.11ac, this android box is a great buy.

Pros

4K HDR video playback and streaming

Best-in-class gaming and connectivity options

Google Play Store ready

Inexpensive

Cons

The SkyStream Three Plus comes with the Android 8.1 Oreo OS, which is an upgrade from the Nougat 7.1 that is in the SkyStream as well as the Amlogic S905x2 Quad core 2 GHz CPU. With 4 GB of RAM for improved performance and speed and a whopping 64 GB of internal memory which gives you enough space to save your media, this android TV box is particularly a great choice for those who are looking to save a lot of media on the device.

In addition, the SkyStream Three plus is that perfect Kodi box you need as it comes with Kodi pre-installed already. Also, this device supports the 4K streaming feature, has the WideVine certification, a certification that allows the TV box to conveniently stream services like Netflix, YouTube, Amazon prime as well as Hulu all in HD.

Furthermore, this SkyStream streaming TV box like other TV boxes works with Google Voice Search. It is also important to mention that this device comes with the Mohu Leaf HD antenna feature which helps to provide free access to other local TV channels live. Key features of this new Android TV box include:

Quad Core, 2.0 GHz

Android 8.0 Oreo

ROM: 64 GB

RAM: 4 GB

Kodi optimized

Google Voice Search

Although this Android TV box does not have 4K streaming for Netflix and YouTube, however its super-fast S905X2 processor, google voice search support, improved RAM and ROM, great customer support service, the Mohu Leaf HD antenna feature not to mention its WideVine certification definitely makes this device the Best New TV Box in 2020.

Pros

Uses the fast S905X2 processor

Streams YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu in HD

4k UHD streaming capabilities

Google Voice Search

Cons

The Leelbox Q3 features the Android 7.1 Nougat with the Amlogic S912 Octa-core 2GHz ARM processor, a 2 GB DDR3 RAM for improved performance and speed, dual-band Wi-Fi, 16 GB of EMMC flash storage which gives you enough space to save your media, not to mention a wireless Bluetooth 4.0. In addition, this device comes with a Mali-T820MP3 graphics card unit which is comparatively fast.

Furthermore, this sleek hexagonal form android TV box is equipped with a remote with standard Android TV functions as well as a USB power adapter. Also, it comes with an HDMI 2.0 port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, optical, and MicroSD connections, and of course as well as a dual USB 2.0 port.

Additionally, one of the advantages of this conventional box that allows you to find a much better Android compatible wireless remote, you can always use your favorite wired or wireless USB keyboard and mice too. Key features of this android TV box include:

Octacore 2 GHz

Android 7.1 Marshmallow

ROM: 16 GB

RAM: 2 GB

Kodi optimized

Remote control

Although the Leelbox Q3 android TV box has no custom launcher or screens and needs tweaking for optimal performance, nonetheless, it’s Android 7.1 Nougat, Kodi optimized feature, Playback performances, Mali-T820MP3 graphics as well as its affordability makes this device the Best Conventional Android TV Box.

Pros

Optimized for Kodi

Capable of playing most 4K videos at 60fps

Cons

The Haosihd T9 features the Android 8.1 Nougat, Quad Core Cortex A53 as well as offers both 3D and 4k output. It’s Ultra High Definition streaming is very smooth, has great sound quality, superb voice search feature while not forgetting to mention that it also comes with amazing user friendly features.

Furthermore, this super-fast device comes packed with a 4 GB RAM for improved speed and performance, a whopping 64 GB internal storage which gives you enough space to save your media, not to mention its great mini keyboard and remote control and is very compatible with Kodi, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon among others.

In addition, this android TV box is equipped with a USB 3.0 port, an inbuilt 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection comes with support for Bluetooth 4.1, H.265 Video decoded and comes with RKMC installed too. Key features of this android streaming box include:

Quad core Cortex A53

Android 8.1 Nougat

ROM: 64 GB

RAM: 4 GB

Kodi Optimized

Google voice search.

If you love Kodi, then this is for you as it is compatible with Kodi and comes preinstalled with RKMC. Although it is not great when compared to other options, however, its super-fast and responsive performance all thanks to its 4 GB RAM for improved speed and performance and 32 GB ROM powered by an Android 8.1 Nougat makes this device the best android streaming box.

Pros

Android 8.1 OS

Multifunctional TV box

High reaction speed

Easy and convenient use.

Cons

The Matricom G-Box Q2 is equipped with the S812 quad-core 2 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor, Android 5.1 Lollipop OS, 16 GB of flash storage which gives you enough space to save your media, 2 GB of DDR3 RAM for improved performance and speed, as well as a Mali-450 GPU which is comparatively powerful and relatively capable of supporting the 1080p and 4K streaming and playback as far as you have a very fast connection.

Furthermore, this android TV box is Kodi optimized and also features a wireless Bluetooth 4.0, dual-band Wi-Fi, USB power adapter, and an IR remote with standard Android TV functions, even though it lacks some dedicated playback buttons.

Additionally, it also features an HDMI port, 10/100 Ethernet LAN port, dual USB ports no to mention a MicroSD slot as well as an optical port. Similarly, like other conventional android TV boxes, both wired and wireless mice and keyboard can also be attached too. Key features of this android TV box include:

Quad Core 2 GHz

Android 5.1 Lollipop

ROM: 16 GB

RAM: 2 GB

Kodi optimized

Remote Control

Although this Android TV box comes with only 10/100 Ethernet and is unable to playback most 4K videos above 30fps, its 16 GB of flash storage, 2 GB of DDR3 RAM, Quad core 2 GHz processor as well Kodi optimized feature not to mention its affordability makes not just an excellent choice but also the Best cheap Android TV box.

Pros

Optimized for Kodi with good official support

Fast Wireless-AC Wi-Fi standard

Relatively affordable.

Cons

Evanpo T95Z is a sleek and attractive android TV box that comes with the Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS which is supported by an S912 Octa Core ARM Cortex A53 processor with a speed of up to 1.5 GHz as well as an ARM Mali-820MP3 GPU with a speed of up to 750 MHz.

Additionally, this device offers 32 GB of internal storage giving you enough space to save your media, 3 GB of RAM for improved speed and performance also supports both the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz Wi-Fi connections too, not to mention the 10/100/1000 MB LAN.

Furthermore, the Evanpo T95Z is equipped with a 3D graphics accelerator, which allows you to enjoy a 3D viewing experience, a mini keyboard with backlit, and a controller and is also compatible with several other android devices like Xbox, Mac, and many others. On the other hand, the T95Z comes ready to play High definition and 4K quality videos and is packed with a USB port, Gigabit Ethernet port as well as HDMI port. Key features of this android TV box include:

Octa Core 2 GHz

Android 7.1

ROM: 32 GB

RAM: 3 GB

Kodi Optimized.

There is no doubt that the T95Z TV box is a great device although it might have a poor sound quality and its Kodi updater does not work very well, its Octa Core 2 GHz processor, great RAM and large storage not to mention its video playback feature as well as a mini keyboard with backlit make this android TV box to stand out.

Pros

Powerful 8 core processor

Large internal memory

Comes with remote and keyboard

Cons

The GooBang Doo XB-III is another great addition from the GooBang Doo team. This Android TV box comes with the Android 7.1 Nougat OS which is powered by an Amlogic Quad Core Cortex A53 2.0 GHz 64-bit processor as well as a Penta-Core Mali-450MP GPU with speed up to 750 MHz.

In addition, this android TV box offers 16 GB of internal storage giving an averagely enough space to save your media, 2 GB of RAM for improved speed and performance and also features an antenna that supports the IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n at 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection not to mention the 10/100M, standard RJ-45 Ethernet feature.

Furthermore, the GooBang Doo XB-III is packed in an aluminum shell which helps to give it improved performance as a result of an increase in heat dissipation. Also, it comes with new features like the Nixie tube fire feature, 3D graphics acceleration as well as is capable of giving High Definition 4K video output of up to 30 Hz. Key features of this TV box include:

Quad Core 2 GHz

Android 7.1.2 Nougat

ROM: 16 GB

RAM: 2 GB

Kodi optimized

3D Graphics Accelerator

Although this device has a poor menu, its remote feels a little bit substandard with unresponsive buttons, as well as minor delay in keyboard input, in spite of this, it is particularly worth mentioning that its 2 GB RAM, 16 Gb ROM, fast loading time, reduced buffering time, sleek keyboard not to mention its external antenna, not only makes this android TV a great buy but also makes it the Best Android TV Box Under 75.

Pros

Comes with a wireless keyboard

It has an external Wi-Fi antenna

Quick loading times.

Cons

The Dolamee D5 Android TV box is a case of paying less and yet getting great value as it offers a lot of features you will expect to get from an Android TV box. This 4K TV box is equipped with a 1.5 GHz Amlogic S905 Quad Core processor supported by the Android 7.1 Nougat OS will cost you less than $50.

Also, it comes with support for 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connectivity for best wireless experience, Bluetooth 4.0, 2 GB of RAM for improved speed and performance, 16 GB of internal storage, as well as H.265 hardware decoding. In addition, it comes with Kodi preinstalled already too even though you might have to update it for a better experience.

Furthermore, this smart TV box is fitted with an HDMI port, USB 2.0 port, Ethernet LAN port, SPDIF port, a remote controller as well as is compatible with Bluetooth speakers, mouse and mini keyboard. Key features of this android box include:

Quad Core 1.5 GHz

Android 7.1

ROM: 16 GB

RAM: 2 GB

Kodi optimized

There is no doubt that the Dolamee D5 Android TV box offers a great value for money even though it does not support Netflix and have other drawbacks, it’s very affordable price, 2 Gb RAM, 16 GB internal storage, Kodi optimized feature not to mention its 4K display does not just make this TV box a great value for money but the Best TV box under $50.

Pros

It is very affordable

Comes with a decent processor and memory

It has Kodi pre-installed.

Cons

It does not support Netflix.

Buying Guide

Finding the best Android TV box in 2020 can be quite a difficult task, this is because there are

Operating System

Just like every other advanced electronics out there, android TV boxes also run using a specific operating system. The operating system of the smart TV box is more than just a visually appealing display and an array of applications, this is because the operating system goes a long way to determine the performance and optimization of your android boxes such as OpenGL support and memory utilization.

The operating system of your smart box is very important because it goes a long way to also affect other smart devices in your home or office. This is because when it comes to compatibility, not all smart devices are compatible with each other, as a result of this, you must ensure that the operating system of your smart TV box is one that will be compatible with the rest of your smart devices. For example, if you make use of Amazon Alexa, you will need a device like the Amazon Fire TV box in order for you to get the best user experience. Along with your home theater system, you can have an unforgettable experience.

Similarly, in 2020, although your android box will function irrespective of the OS it has, you will need to choose a box with at least an operating system of android 7.0 Nougat or higher in order for you to get better synergy with other smart devices as well as enjoy improved performance.

Audio Passthrough

The audio passthrough is that feature which allows the sound of a video file that has been ripped to a PC to gain passage the TV box as well as on to a sound system or home theater receiver system, which is suited to be able to decode and translate the already compressed sound files.

Also, the audio passthrough feature is designed to make your TV shows, movies, and even listening to music sound much better. Although not all android TV boxes come with the audio passthrough, this feature is often found in KODI as a result of its versatility. As a matter of fact, some android boxes come with 5.1 audio passthrough.

In any case, this feature is not essential especially for those who intend to use the speakers on their TV. However, if you want to set up your home theater or get the home cinema experience, your Box should have at least an audio pass through of 5.1.

Dynamic Refresh Rate Switching

The Dynamic refresh rate is a technical term that refers to how fast your android box or smart device processes and displays what you are viewing. The ideal rate is set at 60 Hz, this is because, at that refresh rate, the human eye is unable to detect blinking, or how quick the computer redraws the images.

Even though not all videos are coded to the ideal 60Hz, it does not always look good viewing a movie coded at 30Hz on a 60Hz setting. Therefore, it is the dynamic refresh rate switching that allows the android Box to automatically make up for the differences in frame rate, by synchronizing the higher frame rate of your TV with the lower frame rate of the movie and as a result, gives a better visual appeal.

This feature will however only work if your software (for example KODI), your hardware (for example Android box), and your television too is equipped with the dynamic refresh rate switching feature.

USB, HDMI Ports, and Ethernet

These ports are all essential to your android box even though they have little or nothing in common. If you might want to make use of a wireless mouse or keyboard or also watch movies from an external memory device, you are most probably going to need more than just one USB port. As a result, you must ensure that the android box you want to get with at least 2 ports with one of the ports being a USB 3.0 because transferring data with USB 3.0 is ten times faster than USB 2.0.

To get a smooth buffering free streaming experience, you must ensure your box comes with an HDMI 2.0 port or higher. As a result of the fact that HDMI 2.0 has more bandwidth than HDMI 1.4, users get better experience streaming platforms like Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix.

Also, another vital port is the Gigabit Ethernet port. This because you may have a Gigabit Ethernet router and will want to connect it for advanced Ethernet connection as it provides more significant data transfer with less buffering during video streams. Although most boxes available in the market only support speeds of up to 100Mbps, only the latest boxes are capable of handling Gigabit Ethernet speeds of up to 1000Mbps.

Kodi

Kodi is simply an open-source media center that serves as a hub for all your audio and visual activities, for example, watching videos on YouTube, playing a DVD, or streaming music. It can be customized to your preferences because it is open source.

Since Kodi is an open source, it means it can be installed to nearly any android box. Even more, the KODI software program can function on your smartphone, tablet, TV, or other electronic devices, not to mention NAS.

Although KODI does not work so well with Apple devices as it does with the Android OS other OS, it can still be installed on your Apple PC. It is, however, to ensure that the android TV box you want to buy is KODI optimized to get better user experience.

Over the Air Firmware Updates

Unfortunately, even in 2020, not all box manufacturers offer updates of their firmware. For a few others that do, the process involved is rather too complex for a non-technical user. There, to avoid the trouble of trying to update your device’s firmware, ensure you choose a box that offers over the air (OTA) firmware updates.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

We tried to give answers to some most common questions here.

What Is an Android TV Box?

The Android TV box can be said to be a mini box that runs an Android software or runs a replacement version of a standard Android. This Android TV box is an incredible device that is designed for streaming several contents from your device to your TV through a NAS drive or internet.

How Does It Work?

The Android TV box is usually connected to your TV through the Internet. Also, it is powered by Android OS, which enables the user to install various apps, stream movies through video apps like YouTube, Netflix, as well as play songs through music apps.

What Video Formats TV Box Support?

Interestingly, there is no specific format that an Android Box supports. However, most of the boxes support the following formats:

MPEG1/2/4

264

265

VC-1/WMV

Xvid/DivX3/4/5/6

Will My TV Box Work Anywhere?

Yes, it will. As far as you have an active internet connection, you will be able to make use of the box anytime and from anywhere.

Can I Surf the Internet With My TV Box?

Yes, you can. The box comes with a web browser option to access it from the main menu of your box, and then you can surf the web effortlessly.

How to Install Kodi on My TV Box?

KODI is an open source application, and as such, you can do it in the following ways:

By installing it through the Google Play store or

By sideloading the Kodi APK file.

What Internet Speed Is Required to Stream Videos on My Box?

There is no specific speed for video streaming; this is because it depends on the picture quality desired. However, on a general note, to enjoy streaming at a good quality, you will need a speed of about 5 Mbps.

What Does 4k Streaming Mean?

The acronym 4K is in simple terms the same as Ultra High Definition (Ultra HD). The modernization of TV technology has improved over time. As a result of this, users must catch up with each of these advancements for them to get the best experience. Both the 4K and the Ultra HD refer to video resolutions that are 2,840 X 2,160p; thus, it is safe to say it is a resolution that surpasses the recommendation of an HD TV.

How to Set up an Android TV Box?

The process involved in setting up your new Android TV box is quite easy. The first thing to do is to plug all the cables as instructed in the user manual, after which you will then connect it to the Internet through Wi-Fi or Ethernet just the same way you connect your smartphone to your internet network.

Then, you will now check for firmware and software updates where they do not automatically launch. After the processes above, then you can now start to install apps and games from the Google Play Store or Amazon App Store.

It is, however, important to always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Conclusion

Choosing the best Android TV box majorly depends on the preference and choice of the user. However, whether you are looking for cheap, for gaming, or Amazon prime videos, or streaming. Certain features like the operating system, KODI, Audio passthrough, HDMI, USB, and ethernet connectivity, dynamic refresh rate, etc. Switching not to mention over the air firmware updates should always be considered before buying any android TV box for you to derive the best user experience.

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